"But Grandpa... who was that boy? Why was he so calm before such terrifying fierce beasts—and even gave the feeling he was leading them?" An Lengye calmed down, then remembered.
"I don't know. Perhaps he's also one of the Top Ten Ferocious Beasts in human form," An Lie shook his head, looking at the city guards who'd noticed something and come to check, sighing.
We accidentally entered a dragon's palace.
We were huskies in a wolf pack, shivering.
But such a chance—like glimpsing a corner of the world's truth—was intoxicating.
"Old Master An, out so late?" a gate guard joked, familiar.
"What was that rumbling? I thought it was an avalanche," another looked around, puzzled.
Grandfather and granddaughter shared a look, burying the secret.
Maybe those true big shots didn't mind, but if they leaked anything, it could mean death.
"Maybe thunder. The sudden snowstorm was frightening—we hurried back..." An Lie diverted.
"Yeah, this damned weather..." the guard grumbled, unsuspecting.
...
Dragon City.
A great city of the Heaven Dou Empire.
In the northeast of the map, bordering the Extreme North. In just a few hours, Su Wen, the Snow Empress, and the Ice Empress—now a little loli—arrived.
That fit the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion's form; among the fierce beasts, she's the most "mini."
"Heaven south, earth north—heh, the Heaven-Earth Dragon Sects even play with that." Su Wen asked around and found Earth Dragon Sect was in the north of the city.
"Got what I told you to prepare?" Su Wen glanced at the Ice Empress.
"Mm." The loli was solemn.
Her tense little face contrasted her appearance.
"Then let's go."
…
"Earth Dragon Sect~"
Minutes later, looking up at a plaque,
Su Wen nodded slightly.
Two disciples in brown guarded the gate. One stepped up politely. "May I ask who you are, sir? What brings you to our sect?"
"I have business with your sect master," Su Wen said with an easy smile.
"Our sect master?" The two exchanged surprised looks. Dragon City was named for the Heaven Dragon Sect and Earth Dragon Sect. Though Earth Dragon had declined, Sect Master Nan Shuishui was still a peak Soul Douluo.
"Very well, honored guest, please wait while I report." The disciple didn't refuse outright, shot Su Wen a wary glance, then hurried off.
"Will this work? Su Wen, let's just fight our way in," the Ice Empress flipped her braids, hands on hips.
"The only one who'd dare make Snowy and me wait for an audience is that Nan Shuishui of Earth Dragon Sect."
"Ahem..." Seeing the remaining disciple grow more alert, Su Wen felt awkward and said, annoyed, "We're here to trade, not bandits robbing a house! Do you still want to pass your tribulation?!"
"I do..." the Ice Empress said weakly.
Soon,
another disciple rushed back.
"The sect master will see you."
...
At the end of an ancient corridor,
behind a screen,
Su Wen finally met the middle-aged beauty—the true power of Earth Dragon Sect, a top figure in Dragon City.
But this top figure looked nervous, her gaze flicking over the Snow Empress and Ice Empress behind Su Wen.
Her perception wasn't keen,
but she could faintly sense a brutal, ancient aura from the two—like that of peerless fierce beasts—making it hard to breathe.
She'd thought some distant relative had come to cling and could be brushed off, but instead...
"Sect Master Nan,"
Su Wen nodded with a smile.
"You are... Su Wen?" Nan Shuishui frowned.
What a strange combo—
an ordinary human youth and two beasts (suspected).
"Let me be brief," Su Wen smiled. "I'm here to trade." He glanced at the loli Ice Empress. She pouted, but obediently took out a crimson lotus and handed it to Su Wen.
"This is our sincerity."
Su Wen opened his palm.
The lotus floated there, petals blooming,
like a tender, blood-stained flower.
"A ten-thousand-year Blood Lotus?!!"
Despite the "blood" in the name, it wasn't demonic.
It was merely named for its color.
It only bloomed in the Extreme North's core and was extremely rare. Normally, a hundred-year Blood Lotus had one ring of petals, a thousand-year had two... Seeing the three rings and near-perfect quality, Nan Shuishui's pupils shook.
The Blood Lotus's effect was to evolve a martial soul.
Just one petal could grant a chance to evolve; even if it failed, it would subtly strengthen the martial soul.
Key point: evolution, not mutation—meaning it's controlled and will develop well.
Though one or two petals of hundred- or thousand-year lotus wouldn't upend a martial soul, this was the martial soul, not soul power. Even a tiny boost was like raising the talent ceiling.
Gulp—
Nan Shuishui's throat bobbed.
Such a lavish greeting gift was too precious.
She recalled a recent Heaven Dou imperial auction where a thousand-year Blood Lotus sold to a mystery buyer for 1.2 million gold soul coins—its value was obvious.
"What... do you want in exchange?"
She forced her eyes off the lotus, swallowing hard.
"To exchange for a treasure ground of your sect."
"The ores in your cavern beneath the cold spring..."
Su Wen smiled.
"You mean... the sect's inner secret realm?" Nan Shuishui was stunned.
She'd imagined many asks—harsh ones, even. This lotus alone could buy her life. But he wanted those ores?
Only Earth Dragon sect masters knew of this.
The sect had a cold spring to temper disciples' bodies.
Below it lay a cavern filled with extremely cold ores. Even a Titled Douluo didn't dare go deep. After she took over, she explored and found nothing—and the chill nearly caused disaster—so she rarely went down...
Yet they came specifically to trade for it.
Was there more to it?
"What do you say, Sect Master Nan?"
Su Wen's smile didn't waver.
"Perhaps... allow me to think it over and answer tomorrow?" Nan Shuishui said carefully.
"Hehe..."
"I've shown enough sincerity. But since we're already sitting here, Sect Master Nan—you don't think we'll give you the chance to refuse, do you?"
Su Wen's smile slowly faded.
Behind him, two terrifying auras rose.
"Sect Master Nan,"
"Do you agree... or do you agree?"